No. 6 LSU capitalizes on early Auburn miscues for 35-21 win

LSU RB Jeremy Hill blasts through two Auburn tackles on his way to a 49-yard touchdown run.

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -

No. 6 LSU was able to score twice in the first quarter after two Auburn turnovers and never trailed as the Bayou Bengals held on for the 35-21 win in Tiger Stadium Saturday night.

A total of 92,638 fans, along with Mike VI, braved the rains to watch LSU and Auburn in Tiger Stadium Saturday night.

Head coach Les Miles said he didn't like the way LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC) finished this game against Auburn (3-1, 1-1 SEC). The teams finished with nearly the same yardage in weather Miles described as a "misty dew." LSU ended with 229 total yards in the game, only five more than Auburn had.

The LSU defense started the game by stopping an Auburn gamble on fourth and two with Lamin Barrow recovering quarterback Nick Marshall's fumble at the LSU 43-yard-line. A few plays later, running back Jeremy Hill sprinted 49 yards for a touchdown.

The second Auburn turnover was a dropped punt attempt and LSU took just one play to cash in on Jeremy Hill's second touchdown from 10 yards out. The score gave LSU a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Tigers added to their lead when fullback JC Copeland plunged across the goal line from 1-yard out in the second quarter. The score was set up by a 54-yard run by Hill.

Hill finished the first half with 14 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns. LSU racked up 223 yards of offense in the first half, as Auburn gained 104.

LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger started the second half by throwing an interception. Auburn wasted no time in capitalizing on the turnover and scored several plays later on a Tre Mason 2-yard touchdown run.

Hill scored his third touchdown of the game on a 6-yard run in the third quarter to put the Tigers up 28-7.

LSU faked a field goal attempt and came up short on 4th and 10. Auburn took over at their own 6-yard line and drove 94 yards for its second score of the game. Much of that ground was gained on a Nick Marshall 52-yard completion to Sammie Coates. Mason capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, his second of the game.

LSU came roaring back and went 81 yards in seven plays, as Mettenberger connected with wide receiver Jarvis Landry for a 32-yard touchdown. Landry was able to dive to get the ball across the plane of the goal line.

Auburn was able to cut the lead back to 14 on a 12-yard touchdown run by Cameron Artis-Payne. Auburn then tried an on-side kick, which it recovered, but review of the play showed the kicker touched it early.